Five Dade Atheists File Suit To Block Papal Cross

Five Dade County atheists have filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the building of a 100-foot cross at the publicly owned site of Pope John Paul II`s Mass on Sept. 11.

The suit also wants the court to order Dade County public schools, scheduled to be closed to students for the pontiff`s visit, to hold classes that day.

``To some of our members, the cross is like a swastika. It is a religious symbol and has no place on public land,`` said John Vinson, attorney for the Society of Separationists, whose members filed the suit.

Vinson said the Constitution`s First Amendment stipulates that there be a separation between church and state. Building crosses in a public park and closing schools violate that separation, he said.

The pope`s planned three-hour Mass will occur in Tamiami Park, owned by Dade County. The cross, which is being kept covered until the day of the service, will be next to the altar.

The Dade County School Board agreed to call off classes the day of the Mass but said the reason was that many roads will be closed to provide security for the pontiff and that students would not be able to get to school.

But the suit charges that the reason for the suspension of school was purely political pressure by a powerful religious group.

The suit asks for an injunction forcing the School Board to hold classes and stopping the county government from permitting construction of the huge cross.

``The pope has a right to go where he wants. The religious community has a right to do what they want. But they don`t have a right to use public land or public money.`` said Howard Cahoon, one of the atheists filing the suit.